In a corner of the first floor of the Wanxian Restaurant, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and groans and screams filled the air. None of the cultivators could escape the effects of the "Rain of Talismans," and they all coughed up blood, were seriously injured, and were terrified to the point of death. In the confined space, the power released by the concentrated explosion of these thirty intermediate-level talismans was something that even cultivators at levels thirty or forty could not withstand.
The blood was spilled everywhere as if it were free.
Everyone in the restaurant was stunned; even those who had come to watch the commotion and enforce the law were dumbfounded.
So tragic! More than twenty cultivators at levels 30 and 40 suffered heavy casualties under the concentrated attack of thirty mid-level "Rainstorm Talismans".
No, they might not be dead, but they were fatally injured. Some had their arms and legs blown off; every cultivator was covered in wounds. Most importantly, their souls and the Purple Mansion Demonic Vine were severely damaged.
"The concentrated release of these rain-bursting talismans is terrifyingly powerful!"
"The defensive structure of this five-story white tower is the masterpiece of five masters working together. Let alone a level 30 cultivator, even a level 50 cultivator could withstand ten full-force attacks! Most importantly, the owner of this 'tower-suppressing core' can remain invincible inside!"
This is the mystery of formations!
Zhang Guodong can freely manipulate the protective formations within, ensuring his own people are not harmed.
"Get out of the way!" came a loud shout. Several teams of people in uniform arrived. This was one of the city's law enforcement teams, and they were among the first to arrive.
These cultivators were initially furious at the people who barged in, but upon seeing their attire, they immediately held back and quickly made way.
In the southwestern city of Fang, besides avoiding offending powerful cultivators, the people one should absolutely avoid are the law enforcement disciples whose cultivation levels are not necessarily higher than one's own.
"The law enforcement team has arrived!" the crowd exclaimed.
This is going to be interesting.
This is the first time such a large-scale conflict has occurred in the Southwest City since its establishment, and it happened at the famous "Wanxian Restaurant".
One law enforcement team was led by a deacon, and when the other teams saw this, they immediately lagged behind and let them go in first.
"What's going on?!" On the first floor of the restaurant, a group of law enforcement disciples, led by a deacon, filed in. But what they saw there astonished them.
Among the injured cultivators were some they recognized. Some were independent cultivators with considerable cultivation levels, others were members of organized groups, but all were now severely wounded. It was a gruesome sight!
Judging from the situation, even if he doesn't die, his cultivation level will plummet.
On the other side of the scene, Zhang Guodong and his entourage remained unharmed despite the defenses.
"Ah, it's Steward Yang! These people tried to harass this young lady at Wanxian Restaurant, but when they failed, they vandalized the restaurant. They caused us great losses. If our owner hadn't intervened in time, we and the other guests would have been injured!" Upon seeing the newcomers, Bu Hu jumped out and pointed at the twenty-odd cultivators who had lost their ability to resist, his voice filled with indignation and anger.
The newcomer was named Yang Ping, a leader in the enforcement team. He held the position of deacon.
Yang Ping was also a regular at Wanxian Restaurant, and Xiao Hu was the most familiar with him. He would often give Yang Ping some discounts, so Yang Ping was indebted to him.
Willow Rose surprised Yang Ping slightly. She was indeed a captivating beauty; was this beautiful female cultivator the cause of the trouble? Normally, cultivators were outnumbered, and encountering such a stunning beauty, they couldn't resist flirting, but this time they'd bitten off more than they could chew.
Xiao Hu's angry accusations gave Yang Ping a headache. Many of the injured were influential figures, and he didn't want to offend them completely. But how should he handle this situation?
"How were these people injured? How could they be so badly injured?" Yang Ping raised an eyebrow and asked coldly.
"Deacon Yang, the matter has been briefly investigated. These cultivators were injured by dozens of Rainstorm Talismans!" said a disciple who walked in at this moment.
Dozens of intermediate-level talismans combined to form a "Rain of Talismans"?!
Yang Ping was horrified. He cursed inwardly. What kind of bastard unleashed dozens of mid-level talismans all at once? Their power wasn't much less than that of high-level talismans!
That's a lot of money!
What is the reason?
The disciples whispered among themselves, and Yang Ping had a general idea of what was going on. It turned out these cultivators were looking down on the owner of the Wanxian Restaurant, who was only a level nineteen cultivator. And because of this woman, the conflict ultimately erupted.
This is a difficult matter!
"Who created these dozens of Rainstorm Talismans?" Yang Ping glanced at Xiao Hu and the others, his gaze finally settling on Zhang Guodong. Level 19!
It was level 19 before, and it still is now.
"It's me!" Zhang Guodong stepped forward, his face grim. "Deacon Yang, these people are showing far too little respect for Wanxian Restaurant. I demand justice from them, or Wanxian Restaurant will cease operations!"
Closing down?!
That won't do!
Upon hearing this, Yang Ping's expression immediately changed. Everyone at Wanxian Restaurant knew that they supplied food to "the five lords." If the restaurant were to close, the five lords would be furious, and Yang Ping would be the scapegoat.
So he changed his expression, put on a slight smile, and said in a stiff, polite tone, "Manager Zhang, this matter will be investigated! There's no need to suspend business. You should trust the security of the market and the impartiality of the Chief Steward!"
"That's good. I believe the Southwest City will give my Zhang family justice!" Zhang Guodong's expression relaxed, and he nodded.
“However, this investigation requires the participation of both parties. Manager Zhang, these people are all seriously injured and unable to speak. I must take them away for treatment first, and then investigate! I will report this matter to the Chief Steward, who will handle it fairly! Please come with me, Manager Zhang.” Yang Ping made up his mind, then put on a stern face and said.
"It's alright!"
"Little Tiger. Swallow, you two clean this place up so no one in Zhuixin will dare cause trouble in the restaurant again. Just operate normally. I'll be right back!" Zhang Guodong said calmly.
"Yes, sir!"
After giving the two some instructions, Zhang Guodong turned around and followed Yang Ping out of the restaurant.
"Sister Yanzi, do you think the boss will be alright?" Xiao Hu asked with a worried expression.
"Don't worry, these people started the trouble. If the owner hadn't stopped them, we might have been injured. Besides, our restaurant is catering to five adults. Without Wanxian Restaurant, can they afford to offend us?" Wei Yan reassured her.
In truth, she was also worried. After all, this incident had caused quite a stir; more than twenty cultivators had almost been killed by the master's mid-level talisman.
That's so impressive!
Wei Yan's eyes were sparkling!
However, intermediate-level talismans are very expensive; these thirty intermediate-level "Rainstorm Talismans" would cost several thousand crystals.
"Oh, right, Xiao Hu, Li Jing is the third manager of our Wanxian Restaurant. We need to talk to her about this. The boss will definitely be fine!"
"Will it work?" Xiao Hu asked doubtfully. But seeing Wei Yan's confident expression, he immediately sent a message to Li Jing.
The severely injured cultivators were carried out of the restaurant one by one. The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire textile market. Everyone became wary of Fangshi.
Thirty intermediate-level "Rainstorm Talismans." Ah, released just like that, and in a restaurant where five adults had joined forces to reinforce the defenses. If it were a single person, they would surely be dead.
This is insane! They're fucking rich! That's just money exploding! How many cultivators can be so nonchalant about crystals? Only the owner of the wealthy and powerful Wanxian Restaurant could pull off something like this.
They could kill you with a crystal!
fear!
They're annoyed with you. They might throw a mid-level talisman at you, and you could easily get hurt.
In the Garden of the Azure Palace.
A little girl dressed like an angel was lost in thought, resting her rosy cheeks on her hand, her brows furrowed, looking worried.
This is Li Jing, the girl.
"Why"
At that moment, a pure white jade talisman jumped out. A communication talisman!
"Hey! That annoying Zhang who likes to withhold wages is back? What? Someone actually dared to cause trouble at Wanxian Restaurant? Doesn't he respect me, the third manager? Humph!" Li Jing was furious when she saw the message.
She was, after all, the third manager of the restaurant. These people must have had a death wish to smash the restaurant's signboard.
Li Jingteng stood up, his eyes bright, and prepared to go out.
"Miss, Lord Youlan said it's time for you to do your homework. If you don't finish, you're not allowed to leave!" Just as she was about to go out, two tall attendants and guards descended from the sky and stopped her, their expressions cold and businesslike.
"Ah!" Li Jing was startled.
Seeing that there were two people, and knowing that she couldn't escape from them, the girl snorted and turned to run back.
A shrill, coquettish cry from "Grandma!" sent the entire Youlan Manor into chaos. The sound was powerful enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
"What's wrong now? Have you been naughty again? Hmm?" In the hall, You Lanfu appeared out of thin air like a ghost, her face stern as she looked at her granddaughter who had run in. "You are not allowed to leave the manor until your homework meets my requirements."
"Grandma, no! I want to file a complaint! Someone vandalized Wanxian Restaurant. I'm the third manager, and I have to go out and demand justice!" Li Jing said hurriedly.
He looked righteous and indignant!
"Someone vandalized the Wanxian Restaurant? Interesting!" Lord Youlan frowned, his spiritual sense sweeping across the entire city. Everyone was overwhelmed by this domineering spiritual sense, unable to breathe.
Who is this person?
The guess was so strong that one dared not even breathe.
Zhang Guodong and the others who rushed to the Enforcement Hall also sensed this powerful spiritual sense, which lingered on them for a moment before leaving.
"It's Lord Youlan!" Yang Ping said with a tone of reverence. "Lord Youlan knows about this."
As he spoke, he glanced at Zhang Guodong and thought to himself, "Good luck."
With Lord Youlan's intervention, Zhang Guodong is temporarily out of danger.
"Grandma, how is it? How much damage did Wanxian Restaurant suffer?" Li Jing asked immediately.
Although this little girl has never taken things seriously in restaurants, she now has a strong sense of justice.
"No one was injured at Wanxian Restaurant, but more than twenty cultivators were seriously injured! They've already arrived at the Enforcement Hall," Lord Youlan said, frowning. "Zhang Guodong underestimated him, but he's far too audacious! Daring to attack with thirty mid-level talismans in the middle of the city, humph!"
"These lowly cultivators at levels 30 or 40 are utterly useless. Not a single one of them managed to escape; they were all severely injured in the explosion, and even if they recover, their cultivation levels will drop by several levels."
"So handsome!" Li Jing exclaimed immediately. (Sigh, she even used "handsome"—she's clearly been heavily influenced by modern language.) This was probably taught to her by Wei Yan and the others.
"kindness?"
"Hehe, Grandma, shall we go take a look? These people are really something. Wanxian Restaurant can't open anymore, what are we going to eat? Hmph, their intentions are malicious, they're so awful!" Li Jing said, her eyes darting around. "However, the rules of Fang City can't be changed, and Zhang Guodong will also be punished."
Li Jing said "Zhang Guodong" instead of Wanxian Restaurant. It's obvious what she's up to.
Hmph, how dare they withhold my precious crystals! If they don't extract the principal and interest, I'll just consider myself unlucky!
Zhang Guodong did indeed use some excuses to deduct crystals from Li Jing several times. This little girl remembered it.
Alright.
Enforcement Hall.
"Please wait a moment, Manager Zhang, I'll go fetch the Chief Steward." Yang Ping instructed his men to make arrangements for the injured. After saying goodbye, he headed towards the back hall.
Several law enforcement disciples were watching Zhang Guodong intently from either side. Clearly, Zhang Guodong was trying to escape. He probably wouldn't get away with it.
Chapter 1
The southwestern city, the rear hall of the law enforcement office, and the waterside pavilions and terraces.
As Yang Ping entered, he encountered many stewards of similar rank, exchanging greetings with them. However, some others disliked him, treating him coldly or offering insincere smiles: "Junior Brother Yang Ping, you're going to make a name for yourself this time."
That smile was malicious.
Yang Ping's expression was very unpleasant. This time, the matter he had encountered was quite troublesome, which was why he had asked the chief steward to make the decision.
On one side is the Wanxian Restaurant, the only restaurant in Fangfu. It has attracted many cultivators to the southwestern city of Fangfu, and the higher-ups have offered to protect it. Furthermore, the five lords currently rely on the restaurant for their meals; if something happens to the Wanxian Restaurant, how will this be resolved? What could be more important than the safety of the five lords?
want?
Nowadays in the city, some taverns have appeared, specializing in selling inferior spirit wine. It's true that cultivators love wine like their own lives. But with just wine and no food, something always feels missing.
Aside from Wanxian Restaurant, I haven't seen anyone else with the ability to open a second restaurant. Even the chef has become a prized possession.
Otherwise, if a mortal were to cook such a delicious meal, the spiritual energy within would likely dissipate, and the flavor would not be achieved.
On the other hand, there are over twenty cultivators from several different factions. If this isn't handled properly, it could create potential enemies for the city, and the higher-ups probably won't let it go.
Headache!
Outside the Hall of Enforcement, two disciples were on guard.
"Is the Chief Steward here? Yang Ping reports this matter!" Yang Ping, having abandoned his arrogant demeanor, became respectful and greeted the disciples of the Enforcement Department before informing them.
The Chief Steward is extremely busy. Don't bother him with ordinary matters, or you'll be in serious trouble.
"It's Steward Yang. The Chief Steward has something to say. Steward Yang has arrived, please come in directly!" the enforcement disciple said coldly and expressionlessly. He showed absolutely no respect for Yang Ping; the conversation was purely equal and very indifferent.
However, Yang Ping was clearly used to the guards here, so he nodded and walked inside. Inwardly, though, he was filled with unease; the Grand Steward already knew!
A long, secluded corridor led to a tall pavilion in the water. A young man in black robes was playing a seven-stringed zither, the sound of which seemed to resonate deep within Yang Ping's body, sending shivers down his spine.
"It is said that the Grand Steward is about to break through to level fifty. At that time, the city will have another 'great master'. What profound cultivation!" Under the sound of the zither, Yang Ping was filled with awe and respect. He treated this young man with the same respect as if he were seeing five great masters.
"Steward Yang, what urgent matter is it?" The young man didn't get up, stopped playing the zither, and asked calmly from his elevated position.
"Reporting to the Chief Steward, we are currently facing a thorny issue that we are unable to handle!"
Yang Ping briefly explained the situation and then waited for instructions.
"What are the backgrounds of those cultivators?" the young chief steward asked, frowning.
He naturally knew about Wanxian Restaurant.
However, the other side involved this time numbered quite a few. More than twenty cultivators were seriously injured, their cultivation levels plummeting—a situation Yang Ping couldn't handle. Clearly, these cultivators each had significant backgrounds; otherwise, they wouldn't have sought his instructions.
"Chief Steward, according to my confirmation and that of other enforcement disciples, among these injured cultivators are those from the 'Extreme Dao Sect,' those from the 'Ten Thousand Yang Sect,' those from 'Lord Lei's' sect, and some rogue cultivators," Yang Ping said bitterly, not daring to conceal anything.
Clearly, these people quickly identified themselves and their origins.
However, these three are not sects within the cultivation world. They are newly established forces from the outside. Each of the "Extreme Dao Sect and Wan Yang Sect" has a powerful expert above level 50 in charge, but "Lord Lei" is extremely protective of his own, and among these three forces, he is arguably the strongest.
Another point worth mentioning is that Lei Hui, the son of "Lord Lei," had a conflict with Manager Zhang, the owner of Wanxian Restaurant. Lei Hui ended up losing face and suffering a loss.
They've run into each other again. And this time, they're involved with two other major forces.
How should we handle this situation?
"We'll handle it in three days!"
"Sir, what should we do with Manager Zhang?" Yang Ping asked immediately, startled.
We can't just detain Manager Zhang for three days, can we?
"Hmph, make room for him in a small courtyard, and he's not allowed to leave it even once!"
House arrest!
Yang Ping was helpless. But the Chief Steward's words carried weight, second only to the Five Lords' decrees. Clearly, Manager Zhang was not favored by the Chief Steward.
strangeness!
After leaving the back hall, Yang Ping calmed his breathing and saw Zhang Guodong resting in seclusion, showing no signs of tension.
In fact, Zhang Guodong knew everything that happened in the back room. He was being held under house arrest? Hmph!
"Deacon Yang, how is the situation? If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the restaurant. If the restaurant closes down, no one can afford the responsibility!" Zhang Guodong opened his eyes and said.
"Manager Zhang, I'm afraid that won't work. There are far too many seriously injured cultivators this time. The Grand Steward said that this matter will be dealt with publicly in three days, and an explanation will be given to all parties. It will definitely be handled fairly. For these three days, I'm afraid Manager Zhang will have to stay in the back courtyard!" Yang Ping said with a forced smile.
Zhang Guodong raised an eyebrow, his face darkening further.
"You all go down first!" Seeing that Zhang Guodong seemed about to explode, Yang Ping had an idea and waved away the enforcement disciples.
"Manager Zhang, the person you've offended this time is far too powerful. Even the Chief Steward can't do anything about it. Otherwise, if things escalate, it will be a catastrophe for you," Yang Ping said in a low voice.
It really does look the same!
This can be considered a temporary measure to reassure Zhang Guodong.
Who gave Zhang Guodong his unique restaurant? He managed to establish connections with five powerful figures.
Otherwise, Yang Ping wouldn't have been so "humble" and caught in such a dilemma if he were an ordinary shop owner.
"Here is a jar of wine; please accept it, Deacon Yang!" Zhang Guodong hesitated for a moment, his expression softening slightly. With a flick of his wrist, he placed a small jar of fine wine on the table.
"Please enlighten me, Deacon Yang, what is the background of those cultivators?"
Yang Ping put the small jar of wine away, thinking to himself, "If this wine were priced like in a restaurant, it would probably cost over two hundred low-grade crystals."
Feeling obligated to accept a bribe, Yang Ping recounted what he knew to Zhang Guodong.
"I think the Chief Steward's handling of this matter will likely result in both sides being punished equally. Manager Zhang should be prepared for that!" After a slight hesitation, Yang Ping added at the end.
"Manager Zhang, please. That courtyard is very quiet. Just call out if you need anything. We'll see in three days!"
"Any news? I'll leave it to Steward Yang!" Zhang Guodong thought for a moment, but he wasn't anxious. He nodded and followed Yang Ping to stay temporarily in the small courtyard at the back.
They just couldn't leave the courtyard; three days wasn't a long time.
"Haha, no problem, no problem."
The small courtyard that Yang Ping arranged for Zhang Guodong was actually quite large, much larger than the courtyard on the restaurant's private plot, and the buildings were much more magnificent.
There were even several beautiful female cultivators serving inside. Of course, these women were just selected from the menial servants and had very low cultivation levels.
Zhang Guodong could simply order these maids to do whatever he needed. They would probably even be willing to oblige him in that area.
"I like peace and quiet, you may leave now. I'll call you if I need anything!" Zhang Guodong stepped into the room, but instructed the maids not to disturb him.
Ignoring the girls exchanging bewildered glances, Zhang Guodong closed the door.
The room was large, clean, and simply furnished. A quick glance around revealed nothing amiss. Zhang Guodong smiled slightly. He got into bed and drew the curtains.
Actually, there are layers of hidden sentries watching this place from the outside. The defenses are very tight.
Compare: Two-in-one, that's all.
See you tomorrow.
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